Work Out Wednesday – Finish Lines

“Don’t worry about the competition. Just focus on making it to the finish line”

A marathon, or an ordeal? via 3 Wire Sport

MOSCOW — It is said by sport executives at the highest level, almost as if it is a prayer refrain offered in complete sanctification and utter devotion, that athletes are at the heart of everything they do.

What to make — once again — of the women’s marathon at the track and field world championships? The race, the first showcase event of the 2013 championships, started at 2 in the afternoon. The temperature at the start: in the mid-80s. Under an unrelenting sun, with no clouds in a high blue sky, it stayed hot throughout. The humidity: over 60 percent.

Forty-six women finished. Twenty-three did not. That makes for easy math: half as many did not even finish the race as did.

That’s not a marathon. That’s survival.

Read more about the how our Canadian female marathon runners faired in Moscow

Our nations top competitors lay it all on the line in the name of sport. Sport takes and it gives. Our world competitors deserve endless adoration and support regardless of their finishing time. In the coming months, they will be dedicating themselves to recovery, while continuing to strive forward and make their next set of goals. In the case of the Canadian marathon athletes, they have just 35 days to train up for nationals, where they will be in dire need of “points” in order to keep their funding and carded status. These athletes train for more than mere acclaim. They train to survive.

Just as you or I go to work each day, the men and ladies on our national sporting teams do their jobs each and every day. The difference? For athletes, the paycheque is not definitive. And in the case of the 23 athletes who did not complete the marathon course in Moscow – among them our two Canadian runners, their “failure” even at the world level, even after months, and years of dutiful service, and reliable work, could leave them staring at a pink slip.

Life, like sport is full of ups and downs. Time and time again we are told to do our job, and make our deadlines. But what becomes of the goalie who lets in the final game changing goal? Who cares for the kicker who misses, and loses the game? What do the runners who can’t run do when they get to they miss that finish line?

Lives are made and broken by sport. I hope the runners we sent to Moscow can find the support and courage they need to continue towards the finish line. After all, their next deadline is in just 35 days.